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Spring Retreat. The Six Paramitas
Meditation (Sanskrit Dhyāna, Pali Jhāna; Chinese Chánnà, called thiền in Vietnamese, Son in Korean) is the fifth perfection among the Six Paramitas, essentially based on two elements: stopping (Samatha) and looking deeply (Vipassanā).
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Stopping has three aspects:
- Ceasing forgetfulness (ending the wandering of the mind, bringing the mind back to the present moment).
- Calming body, mind, and speech through the breath, walking meditation, sitting meditation, and so on.
- Concentration, leading to the power of concentration, like a still lake perfectly reflecting the full moon.
- Looking deeply is to look deeply, shining the light of understanding onto the object (a leaf, a flower, anger, sadness…) in order to give rise to insight (prajñā, wisdom).
Meditation gives rise to wisdom (the perfection of prajñā) and is interdependent with the other perfections:
- Mindfulness trainings (precepts) and generosity nourish meditation;
- Meditation deepens the precepts and reveals a vast heart;
- Every day, every simple act—stepping up the stairs, brushing your teeth, washing your face, turning on the water—can be an opportunity to practice mindfulness, to strengthen meditation, and from there, to bring about peace and awakening.